Why do so many Americans aspire to a federal job? The answers are diverse. Some consider it a patriotic duty, while for others it’s an act of enlightened self-interest. Whatever your motivation, however, benefits are significant. Simply put, Uncle Sam is an excellent boss.

Working for federal government offers employment stability that cannot be replicated in private sector. Once a new employee completes a predetermined probationary period (usually 1 year), lifetime employment is nearly guaranteed. Laws and regulations governing federal personnel practices make it extremely difficult to fire, lay-off, or forcibly transfer most employees. On rare occasions when lay-offs do occur, displaced employees are given very preferential hiring treatment for similar positions that becomes available. The result is that very few federal employees have ever missed a day of work due to a lay-off.

Fringe benefits, including an excellent retirement package, are also a major motivating factor. Health benefits for federal employees are generally better than those offered in private sector, and government currently picks up more of premium costs than most private employers. For an employee enrolled in Blue Cross/Blue Shield’s family coverage, for instance, government currently pays $578 of $771 monthly premium. Retirement benefits are based on a complicated formula that incorporates employee’s salary, years of service and retirement age, but independent studies consistently determine that plan is more generous than nearly all private sector employers.

Federal salaries are competitive as well. In 2005, average salary for all federal workers worldwide is $60,203. Due to salary structure and political realities, raises are virtually guaranteed every year. In January 2005, raise was set at 3.5%. In addition, salary adjustments are made for employees in major metropolitan areas.

Federal service also provides far more opportunity for advancement than most other employers. At senior management level (known as Senior Executive Service, or SES), salaries range from $107,550 to $162,100. There are currently approximately 7,000 SES employees in federal service.

With all of these benefits, it’s no wonder that many job seekers are trying to land a position with federal government. While competition is fierce, here are some key strategies that can help you in your search:

1. Check government’s official employment web site (http://www.usajobs.opm.gov) often. Virtually every federal job vacancy is listed there, and it’s updated every day. Most vacancy announcement are only open for a period of approximately 3 to 4 weeks, and application process can be detailed, so it’s best to check frequently so you can start working on your application as early as possible.

The Government is currently asking people for their views on plans to outlaw age discrimination in workplace by next October.

The consultation – called “Age Matters” – asks how UK should implement EU Employment Directive, which bans any age discrimination in employment and vocational training.

And warning to unaware employers is: watch out for pitfalls.

The directive covers issues including: ·The scrapping of mandatory retirement ages where employers can dismiss staff when they reach a certain age – unless it can be justified ·The possibility of a default retirement age of 70, when employers could require employees to retire without having to justify their decision. ·Situations where employers could, in exceptional circumstances, justify treating people differently because of their age. ·Changes to law regarding unfair dismissal and redundancy.

It will also mean that a number of everyday examples of age discrimination will be outlawed, including an employer telling a worker they are too old to go on training programmes, and a bar on advertisements specifying upper age limits for applications.

Despite fact that new legislation in 2006 will outlaw reference to age in job adverts, ageism is still rife at present.

A new study by CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) finds that 1 in 5 job seekers have been discouraged from applying to a position because it contained an age restriction.

The study shows that although prejudice is much worse for those over 40, 1 in 12 of those under 35 were also discriminated against for being too young. In addition to this, twice this number believe they have been rejected for being too young, but have no evidence.

By 2006 such practices will be illegal with new legislation outlawing any reference of age in recruitment adverts, interviews or at workplace.